E-mails from Byron Deveson

Subject:   Two WW2 crashes in NSW
Date:             Sat, 15 Apr 2000 22:15:32 +1000
From:           Byron Deveson <bdeveson@bigpond.com>

I came across your site while I was showing my sister's father-in-law, Mr Arthur Parkinson of Canberra, what could be found on the Internet.

He was enthralled by the information on your site, and he would like to pass on some information that might be of interest to you.

About 1940 he was receiving training in the Empire Training Scheme (or some similar named scheme) and was on a RAAF Avro Anson that crash landed at Condoblin airport. The pilot misjudged the approach and landed short - and running through a perimeter fence.

The second crash occurred at Uranquinty on 7 April 1942. A pilot with the surname Oppy volunteered to test fly a Wirraway after it had been re-built after some damage. The Wirraway did not pull out of a power dive and the pilot was killed. Pilot Oppy was from Condoblin and would have been born about 1923.

I have a photo of a crashed and burning aircraft - taken at either Sale (Vic) or Laverton, probably prior to 1942. My father was in the Citizens Air Force during the 1930s and trained at Laverton, and was briefly at Sale before going to the SWP area.

I will scan this photo and send it to you - it appears to have been taken only a few seconds after the crash, and I think that it was an aeroplane that my father had been training in. My father (who is dead) once told me that a couple of aircraft that he normally flew in (as aircrew) had crashed while he was not in the aircraft. I would be interested to find out the details of the crash. The pilot was killed and my mother said that his body fat melted into his parachute.

P.S. Mr Parkinson is at email: pnsmcmullen@bigpond.com and I am sure he would be happy to provide any additional details.

Subject:    Aircraft crash - R. Oppy
Date:             Mon, 17 Apr 2000 23:53:18 +1000
From:           Byron Deveson <bdeveson@bigpond.com>

I did some searching and I think I have identified the crash that Mr Arthur Parkinson remembered.

The pilot was Robert Alexander Oppy. I obtained the following from the Commonwealth War Graves site:

Leading Aircraftman
412025
Royal Australian Air Force
who died on
Tuesday, 7th April 1942. Age 20.

Cemetery: WAGGA WAGGA GENERAL CEMETERY, New South Wales, Australia
Grave Reference/Panel Number: C. of E. Plot. Sec. T. Grave 31.

The parents fit with what Arthur could remember - one of the Oppy relatives was the cordial manufacturer in Condoblin, and I confirmed this in the 1939 electoral roll. I also found the two parents, Sydney Robert Oppy and Agnes Stella, in the 1939 electoral roll - residing in Condoblin. The parents appear to have moved to Coogee between 1939 and his death.

Apparently the crash occurred at Uranquinty (Wagga) aerodrome, and not Parkes as Arthur remembered.

I have found that there is a file concerning this accident in the Australian Archives. I saw it yesterday, but I haven't been able to get back into the site to pull out the full details.

Oppy, Robert Alexander died 1942
father: Sydney Robert Oppy
mother: Agnes Stella Oppy
Reg Year: 1942
Reg No: 13720

I am still hunting for the photo of the Laverton/Sale crash. I put it somewhere to copy it a couple of months ago - but I can't remember where at present.

Subject:    Robert Alexander Oppy - casualty file
Date:             Tue, 18 Apr 2000 20:34:39 +1000
From:           Byron Deveson <bdeveson@bigpond.com>

Subject:   Aircraft crash WW2
Date:           Fri, 21 Apr 2000 21:26:33 +1000
From:          Byron Deveson <bdeveson@bigpond.com>

I will see what details of this crash I can find. It was probably at Sale (Vic), or possibly at Laverton.

Subject:    R. Oppy - Wirraway crash at Wagga 1942
Date:             Fri, 21 Apr 2000 21:36:46 +1000
From:           Byron Deveson <bdeveson@bigpond.com>

I haven't been able to locate any more details - particularly the serial numbers etc of the Wirraway.

I will see if I can access the casualty file in the Australian Archives - this file should contain all the relevant details such as the serial numbers.

Subject:    A wealth of information available!
Date:            Fri, 21 Apr 2000 21:56:53 +1000
From:           Byron Deveson <bdeveson@bigpond.com>

I was checking the details of the casualty file concerning R. Oppy and I found there are 759 files concerning Wirraways.

I have selected the first few that are relevant - I haven't been through them all yet - but the Australian Archives search facility would appear to be a great way of obtaining information about WW2 crashes. For example, the following are from the first couple of dozen files that I looked at. I haven't checked to see if you have all of these accidents in your list.

Title: Accident to Wirraway A20-117 of No 24 Squadron at Ravenswood on 18/4/1941 - F/O I L Menzies
Series number A705
Control symbol 32/16/57
Contents date range 1941 - 1941
Access status Open
Location National Office
Barcode no 165753

Title: Accident to Wirraway A20-189 Squadron at
Swimashore Bay, Wilson's Promontory on 6/10/1941 - P/O F A Watchorn
Series number A705
Control symbol 32/16/205
Contents date range 1941 - 1941
Access status Open
Location National Office
Barcode no 165769

Title: Accident to Wirraway A20-573 - Unit No 1 AFTS - Date 21 July 1953 -
Pilot A14167 Trainee Pilot Hallinan, T P
Series number A705
Control symbol 32/16/1603
Contents date range 1953 - 1962
Access status Not yet examined
Location National Office
Barcode no 165801

Title: Wirraway A20-96 - Court of Inquiry C/O's report re accident at Uranquinty on 27/9/44
Series number A705
Control symbol 32/16/2017
Contents date range 1944 - 1945
Access status Open with exception
Location National Office
Barcode no 165817

Subject:     Wirraway accidents
Date:              Fri, 21 Apr 2000 22:07:44 +1000
From:            Byron Deveson <bdeveson@bigpond.com>

A search of the archives shows 211 files dealing with "Wirraway Accidents"! 175 of these files are in the year range 1939-46. There are 759 files concerning Wirraways in the archives.

Title: Accident to Wirraway A20-189 Squadron at Swimashore Bay, Wilson's Promontory on 6/10/1941 - P/O F A Watchorn
Series number A705
Control symbol 32/16/205
Contents date range 1941 - 1941
Access status Open
Location National Office
Barcode no 165769

Title: Accident to - Wirraway A20-732 - Pilot Lord WJC
Series number A705
Control symbol 32/6/1807
Contents date range 1938 - 1958
Access status Not yet examined
Location National Office
Barcode no 1094695

Title: Accident Wirraway A20-134 Pilot Burr RHE 04415
Series number A705
Control symbol 32/16/1669
Contents date range 1938 - 1958
Access status Not yet examined
Location National Office
Barcode no 1095763

Title: Accident Wirraway A20-397 Pilot Drury 022125 Whiteley C A52408
Series number A705
Control symbol 32/16/1686
Contents date range 1938 - 1958
Access status Not yet examined
Location National Office
Barcode no 1095799

Title: Accident to Wirraway A20-687 Pilot Rowney MG A50445
Series number A705
Control symbol 32/16/1737
Contents date range 1938 - 1958
Access status Not yet examined
Location National Office
Barcode no 1095930

Title: Accident Wirraway A20-683 Pilot Burr RHE 04415
Series number A705
Control symbol 32/16/1707
Contents date range 1938 - 1958
Access status Not yet examined
Location National Office
Barcode no 1095964

Title: Accident Wirraway A20-557 Pilot Kennedy WM A310402
Series number A705
Control symbol 32/16/1726
Contents date range 1938 - 1958
Access status Not yet examined
Location National Office
Barcode no 1095992

Title: Accident re: Wirraway A20-267 Place: Pearce Pilot: Sqn Ldr CJ Sugden (05813)
Series number A705
Control symbol 32/16/1830
Contents date range 1929 - 1960
Access status Not yet examined
Location National Office
Barcode no 1130532

Title: Wirraway A20-652 - Court of Inquiry C/O's Report re accident at Laverton on 19.9.44
Series number A705
Control symbol 32/16/2008
Contents date range 1944 - 1944
Access status Open
Location National Office
Barcode no 165812

Title: Wirraway A20-182 - Court of Inquiry re accident to at Lorquon 2.7.45
Series number A705
Control symbol 32/16/2043
Contents date range 1945 - 1945
Access status Open
Location National Office
Barcode no 165827

Title: Accident to - Wirraway A20-719 - Pilot Baddams RA (041522)
Series number A705
Control symbol 32/16/1801
Contents date range 1938 - 1958
Access status Not yet examined
Location National Office
Barcode no 1094692

Title: Accident to A20-164 Wirraway Pilot O'Neill JS A24944
Series number A705
Control symbol 32/16/1627
Contents date range 1938 - 1958
Access status Not yet examined
Location National Office
Barcode no 1095727

Title: Accident Wirraway A20-438 Pilot Bear GS (05380)
Series number A705
Control symbol 32/16/1647
Contents date range 1938 - 1958
Access status Not yet examined
Location National Office
Barcode no 1095764

Title: Accident Wirraway A20-202 Pilot Turner A 033699
Series number A705
Control symbol 32/16/1679
Contents date range 1938 - 1958
Access status Not yet examined
Location National Office
Barcode no 1095778

Title: Accident Wirraway A20-668 Pilot Sherwood JE 0215042
Series number A705
Control symbol 32/16/1685
Contents date range 1938 - 1958
Access status Not yet examined
Location National Office
Barcode no 1095796

Title: Accident Wirraway A20-756 Pilot Andrews KC 029188
Series number A705
Control symbol 32/16/1695
Contents date range 1938 - 1958
Access status Not yet examined
Location National Office
Barcode no 1095949

Title: Accident Wirraway A20-371 Pilot Klaffer LR 04218
Series number A705
Control symbol 32/16/1708
Contents date range 1938 - 1958
Access status Not yet examined
Location National Office
Barcode no 1095965

Title: Accident Wirraway A20-662 Pilot Harnetty KJ 033180 Linnett D A15127
Series number A705
Control symbol 32/16/1720
Contents date range 1938 - 1958
Access status Not yet examined
Location National Office
Barcode no 1095981

Subject:   Liberator accidents
Date:           Fri, 21 Apr 2000 22:16:17 +1000
From:          Byron Deveson <bdeveson@bigpond.com>

Title: Accident - Liberator LB30 Aircraft G-AGKU - Guilford 8/2/1946
Series number MP1665/1
Control symbol 1/101/1297
Contents date range 1946 - 1946
Access status Open
Location Victoria
Barcode no 639305

Title: Liberator A72-8 - Court of Inquiry re accident to at 7 OTU on 11.1.45 [includes photographs]
Series number A705
Control symbol 32/18/516
Contents date range
1945 - 1945
Access status Open
Location National Office
Barcode no 845431

Title: Accident to Liberator A72-172. Locality - Amberley. Date - 20/8/1948. Pilot Wing Commander A E Cross
Series number A705
Control symbol 32/18/1080
Contents date range 1948 - 1948
Access status Not yet examined
Location National Office
Barcode no 3198039

Title Liberator A72-112 - Court of Inquiry re accident at Tocumwal on 14 February 1945
Series number A705
Control symbol 32/18/522
Contents date range 1945 - 1945
Access status Open
Location National Office
Barcode no 707065

Title: Sergeant Alexander Douglas WHITEHEAD - RAAF No 121592 - Casualty file [Killed air accident, Liberator A72-80, Vansittart Bay, 4 miles North West of Truscott Strip, 23 March 1945 - Enlisted 11 November 1942 - Date of Birth 8 October 1924][46pp]
Series number A705
Control symbol 166/43/1238
Contents date range 1945 - 1946
Access status Open
Location National Office
Barcode no 1083185

Title: Liberator 6 - EV814 - Court of Inquiry re accident to at Kolar on 14/9/1944
Series number A705
Control symbol 32/4/213
Contents date range 1944 - 1945
Access status Not yet examined
Location National Office
Barcode no 3284632

Title: Accident - Forced Landing - Liberator LB30 Aircraft G-AGKT - Geraldton 22/10/1945
Series number MP1665/1
Control symbol 1/101/1186
Contents date range 1945 - 1945
Access status Open
Location Victoria
Barcode no 639303

Title: Liberator 6 EW 155 - Court of Inquiry re accident to 356 Squadron 28/10/1944
Series number A705
Control symbol 32/4/225
Contents date range 1944 - 1945
Access status Not yet examined
Location National Office
Barcode no 3284757

Title: Liberator EV 837 - Court if Inquiry re accident to in Ceylon on 15/6/1944 involving Miller, W G A P/O 423834, Killed
Series number A705
Control symbol 32/4/251
Contents date range 1944 - 1945
Access status Not yet examined
Location National Office
Barcode no 3286186

Title: Accident to Liberator A72-313 - Date 14.9.1945 - Locality 5 miles south of Amberley Drome
Series number A705
Control symbol 32/18/391
Contents date range 1945 - 1945
Access status Open
Location National Office
Barcode no 697386

Title: Liberator A72-80 - Court of Inquiry re accident at Vansittart Bay on 23-3-1945 [includes photographs]
Series number A705
Control symbol 32/18/531
Contents date range 1945 - 1945
Access status Open
Location National Office
Barcode no 851702

Title: Liberator KG 883 - Court of Inquiry re accident near Kolar on 30/11/1944 involving Stubbs, A J F/Sgt 42847
Series number A705
Control symbol 32/4/234
Contents date range 1944 - 1945
Access status Not yet examined
Location National Office
Barcode no 3284893

Title: Liberator EW 631 - Court of Inquiry re accident to, at Mascot 19.7.1945
Series number A705
Control symbol 32/18/536
Contents date range 1945 - 1946
Access status Open
Location National Office
Barcode no 830454

Title: Harvard FE667 and Liberator 62 - Court of Inquiry re accident at Amarda Road on 5/5/1944 - Mitchell R W/O 416704 and Blumer P J W/O 402027 - Involved
Series number A705
Control symbol 32/4/145
Contents date range 1944 - 1944
Access status Not yet examined
Location National Office
Barcode no 3283065

Title: Liberator EV 846 - Court of Inquiry re accident at Kolar Airfield on 23/11/1944 involving Porter, F F/Sgt 425353 and White, J W F/Sgt 430197
Series number A705
Control symbol 32/4/235
Contents date range 1944 - 1945
Access status Not yet examined
Location National Office
Barcode no 3285019

Title: Liberator A72-172 - Court of Inquiry re accident to at Amberley on 26/8/1948 - Cross A E W/Cr 150 and six others involved - uninjured
Series number A705
Control symbol 32/18/600
Contents date range 1948 - 1948
Access status Not yet examined
Location National Office
Barcode no 3307652

Title: Accident to Liberator A72-359 - Date 2.11.45 - Locality RAAF Station, Darwin
Series number A705
Control symbol 32/18/416
Contents date range 1945 - 1945
Access status Open
Location National Office
Barcode no 697397

Title: Liberator VC BZ 868 - Court of Inquiry re accident to at Minneriya on 1/5/1945
Series number A705
Control symbol 32/4/259
Contents date range 1945 - 1945
Access status Not yet examined
Location National Office
Barcode no 3286221

Title: Accident - Liberator Aircraft G-AGKU - Guilford 16/10/1944 (Item contains four (4) photos)
Series number MP1665/1
Control symbol 1/101/982
Contents date range 1944 - 1944
Access status Open
Location Victoria
Barcode no 639392

Subject:   Archives files - lots!
Date:           Fri, 21 Apr 2000 22:43:15 +1000
From:          Byron Deveson <bdeveson@bigpond.com>

I have run a few searches and found that there is a wealth of files concerning aircraft crashes. I found the following numbers of files for the following aircraft. It doesn't appear that air battles, or losses generally associated with active service, generate these types of files.

That's why there are 255 files for Wirraway accidents, but only 25 for Spitfires.

Liberator 34 files
Wellington 1 relevant file
Spitfire 25 files
Beaufighter 25
Kittyhawk 33
Avro Anson 19

Subject:   Archives searches
Date:           Sat, 22 Apr 2000 17:52:08 +1000
From:          Byron Deveson <bdeveson@bigpond.com>

Subject:   Major file? concerning crashes
Date:           Sat, 22 Apr 2000 18:08:09 +1000
From:          Byron Deveson <bdeveson@bigpond.com>

Title: RAAF - Aircraft crash reports [flying accidents] - Fairey Battle,Airspeed Oxford,Beaufighter,Tiger Moth,Lockheed Hudson,Beaufort,Avro Anson,Spitfire,Boomerang,Kittyhawk,Wirraway. Aircraft casualties - served with allied squadrons.
Item barcode 1382155
Series number A9845
Series accession number A9845/1
Control symbol BOX 5
Contents date range 1940 - 1987
Extent Location National Office
Access status Open with exception
Reason for restriction
Closed period
Date of decision 30 May 1995

PS:- Can you identify the type of aircraft in the photo I sent (aircraft burning)? If I know the type of aircraft I can then search the Archives files fairly easily.

I need your help

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